Libertyville olive oil shop helps make retirement transition smooth
By Long Hwa-shu For Sun-Times Media January 10, 2012 12:00PM
A love for cooking and fine ingredients led to Sandy Schuenemann (left) and her niece Mary Koval opening Oh! Olive in Libertyville. | Thomas Delany Jr.~ Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 10, 2012 12:16PM
A passion for cooking has blossomed into a new business venture for a retired Fox Lake educator.
Sandra Schuenemann of Richmond and her niece, Mary Koval of Fox Lake, have opened Oh, Olive! .
The Libertyville store, at 606 N. Milwaukee Ave., carries more than 40 kinds of premium olive oils, many flavored, and also balsamic vinegars. Some of the oils are from California; most, though, are imported.
“I love to cook and use the finest ingredients. I like olive oil a lot not only because of the flavor and aroma but also because of its health benefits,” said Schuenemann, who retired in June as associate superintendent of Fox Lake Grade School District 114 where she worked 39 years.
Schuenemann was looking to go into business in retirement when she went to a food show at Arlington Park. There she came across an olive oil importer from Oakland, Calif., who had a booth at the show.
She was impressed with what Veronica Foods, a leading importer and distributor of premium olive oils, had to offer. She followed it up with a visit to the company in Oakland and decided that was it.
“They have the best products and I want to share them with people in the area,” said Schuenemann, pointing to America’s new found love for olive oils as a healthy food choice.
Soon with her niece, a former secretary at District 114, as a partner, she opened Oh, Olive! in Libertyville in a vacant 950-square-foot store after remodeling it. Bright and warm with an Italian decor, the store is lined on tables with shining stainless steel urns containing oils and vinegars. It also carries pasta, teas and spices.
“We opened 18 months ago and the store is doing very well,” she said, pointing out the store also sells on the Internet (www.ootogo.com).
So well, in fact, they opened a second store five weeks ago in Glenview at the Glen Town Center.
The Glenview store is owned, in addition to them, by Sandra’s son, Aaron Schuenemann, and his wife, Alicia. Sandra’s husband, Art Schuenemann, is the general manager for the business.
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